Vice President Joe Biden back riding the train - as sequester cancels flights

Vice President Joe Biden is happy to take the train home to Delaware, foregoing the expensive flights on Air Force 2 that are the perks of his office in favor of the much more budget friendly Amtrak.

The federal budget may be going off the rails, but Biden is determined not to do likewise.

According to Fox News, Biden said on Wednesday that he initiated the change himself, calling it the one thing about the looming sequester that's working to his benefit.

Speaking at the National Association of Attorneys General, Biden was quoted as saying that while he took nearly 8,000 train trips as a senator, the Secret Service insisted he travel by air as Vice President because the Amtrak 'gives too many opportunities for people to interact with me in a way they wouldn't like to see.'

But Biden has successfully argued that looming budget cuts have changed the terms of the debate. 'I was able to say, 'Look guys, I've got to take the train now - it's cheaper than flying.' So I get to take the train again.'

High security plane trips to Delaware and back cost tens of thousands of dollars each time, but now the price has been slashed by Biden's unusual decision.

'Air Force 2 is grounded for weekend trips starting Friday,' one source told the Huffington Post, but Biden reportedly flies by military plane to Delaware during the week.

'He'll start taking the train again this weekend when the sequestration starts. It's a huge expense to be taking the military flights,' a source said. 'So now it's back to regular Joe.'

Biden reportedly passes some of the one-hour, eighteen minute trip from Washington D.C. to Wilmington, Delaware reading the paper or reviewing work materials.

But like the born politician he is he mostly prefers to talk to strangers on the trip, a source said.

'He just walks around shaking hands posing for pics,' said the source. 'He talks to everyone and anyone, and doesn't sit still.'